Knesset to convene emergency meeting on protests

MK Katz (National Union) sent request to Knesset speaker, asked Kadima chairwoman to help collect requisite 25 signatures.

By LAHAV HARKOV
Tel Aviv housing prices tent protest 311 (photo credit: Channel 10)
Tel Aviv housing prices tent protest 311
(photo credit: Channel 10)
The Knesset will hold an emergency meeting next Tuesday on the cost of living, the doctors’ strike and public protests, Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin announced on Monday.
MK Ya’acov Katz (National Union) sent a request to Rivlin on Sunday, and asked Kadima faction Chairwoman Dalia Itzik to help him collect the 25 signatures necessary to call such a meeting during the Knesset recess, which began last Thursday.RELATED:TA: Student caravan towed, elderly protest living costs Likud, Kadima spar over electricity price hike
With Kadima taking the reins, a petition titled “[Prime Minister Binyamin] Netanyahu’s tax government is disconnected from the people and ignoring the public protest,” garnered the support of 50 opposition MKs by Monday afternoon.
“The prime minister of Israel scorns the protesters, does not take their motives seriously, and denies its cry,” a Kadima spokesman explained. “He is trying to strangle the public discourse on his social failures, and it is his personal responsibility that in the last two-and-ahalf years the prices of water, electricity, public transportation, gas, food and more, have risen.”
“The Knesset will convene, despite what he wants, in order to discuss the demonstration in the streets,” the Kadima spokesman added.
Katz thanked Kadima for cooperating, saying that “Netanyahu cannot ignore the growing public protest.
Every sector in the nation is complaining about the cost of living and the construction freeze.”
Rivlin explained that he was willing to call the meeting within 48 hours, but Katz requested to push it off, because National Union and Habayit Hayehudi have other Knesset duties planned for Wednesday.
Tuesday is the next available day, because Netanyahu plans to address the Knesset Finance Committee on Monday.